ethonal in fuel

[Michaela521]

Winterizing my boat. I just messed up. They say in the instruction manual to fill the fuel tanks full inorder to prevent condensation in the fuel tanks well I just accidentally filled it with 10 percent ethanol solution of fuel. The boat can run on the stuff but in the winterizing section of the manual it says that if fuel with alcohol in it is used the tanks should be drained as low as possible and fuel stabilizer used in the rest of the fuel leftover.

Is it really necessary to have to drain the fuel tanks like they say to do.

Also even if the answer is yes or no how do you siphon out the fuel tank well. I keep on sticking a hose in it and suck but only alittle comes out and the siphon stops. Doesn't work for some reason.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: ethonal in fuel

Disconnect the fuel line, add an extension to it so the end gets lower than the tank and siphon it out. Let gravity do the job.

 

[Don S]

Re: ethonal in fuel

No reason to drain the tank if it's full. Add fuel stabilizer and it will be fine. If you do have to get the gas out, you will have to use a pump. In the fuel pickup line is a fitting called an anti siphon valve that prevents gas siphoning out of the tank in case the line leaks below the level of the tank.

 

[Michaela521]

Re: ethonal in fuel

So there is no way to get a hose in the fuel tank that will allow me to siphon it out??

 

[Don S]

Re: ethonal in fuel

So there is no way to get a hose in the fuel tank that will allow me to siphon it out??

The fuel tanks usually have a gauge sender than can be removed which will give you about an inch and a half hole, but most tanks are in the bottom of the boat, so not sure how you could possibly get a container lower than the than, even if the boat is on a trailer. Trying to get over the sides would probably be too high to start a siphon. But, I can't say for sure, I can't see your boat.
Like I said before, a pump works best. Even a small electric automotive fuel pump will empty the tank through the antisiphon valve if all you want to do is empty it.

 

[dmarkvid2]

Re: ethonal in fuel

I drained my tank by putting a hose in the sending unit hole like Don says, and then run the hose through the drain hole in the transom and down into a gas container. That way you'll always be low enough to siphon. just be careful when you suck the gas out, not to get a mouth full

 

[ziggy]

Re: ethonal in fuel

if ya gotta siphone it. i've used a hand siphone pump. they work well and ya don't get a mouthfull of fuel ( i hate the taste of gasonline). don't know if this applies to all hand pumps, but mine, once primed, if the container is below the fuel tank. will siphone at that point. no need to contuinue useing the pump till yer down to the bottom.......

So there is no way to get a hose in the fuel tank that will allow me to siphon it out??

sounds like a drag to do to me, but suppose ya could pre-fill the hose with yer favorite gasoline. once the hose is full, keeping both ends closed(somehow), one end into the fuel tank, one into yer container below the fuel tank level....should start a siphone.......

 

[Silvertip]

Re: ethonal in fuel

I use an electric fuel pump from my junk box. Disconnect the line, adapt it to the electric. Add however much hose you need to reach a suitable container and let 12V do the work. But as Don said, if its full, why drain it. Stabilize it and put 'er to bed.